Why Elea Data Centers is Betting on the Amazon Region for AI

In the Amazon, river systems still dictate the rhythm of logistics and humidity is often a design constraint.

Yet, it may come as a surprise that a new kind of infrastructure has been announced within the region.

Elea Data Centers and AXIA Energia are moving ahead with BEL1, the first AI-neutral data centre planned for the Amazon, in Belém, Brazil.

Set to begin operations in the second quarter of 2027, the facility marks a shift in how and where Brazil is expanding its compute footprint, with energy, connectivity and geography converging in a single build.

A new Amazonian digital foothold

BEL1 will launch with an initial 7.5MW of capacity, already supported by demand from anchor clients, and is designed with a clear expansion path to 100MW in future phases.

For Elea, the choice of Belém is as much about network architecture as it is about regional development.

“Expanding into Belém is a strategic move to broaden the geographic distribution of our platform and strengthen Brazil's digital infrastructure," states Alessandro Lombardi, CEO and Founder of Elea Data Centers.

"The project began to take shape in 2024 when Belém was confirmed as the host city for COP30, reinforcing the region's potential to attract structural and sustainable investments.

"The North region will play a fundamental role in the Brazilian digital ecosystem by providing an alternative route to Fortaleza and by helping reduce digital inequality and boost regional competitiveness.

"BEL1 reaffirms our pioneering spirit and represents a legacy of COP30 by demonstrating the importance of developing sustainable digital infrastructure in strategic and remote regions." 

Belém is positioned as a counterbalance to Fortaleza, Brazil’s dominant coastal hub for digital infrastructure and connectivity.

Renewable power at the core

Energy supply is at the heart of BEL1’s design, with AXIA Energia providing 100% renewable power through a dedicated Power Purchase Agreement.

The data centre will be built near the Miramar high-voltage substation, operated by AXIA, a location choice that reduces transmission risk and supports long term scalability.

The proximity to high-voltage infrastructure is intended to give the facility operational stability while also creating room for phased expansion without fundamental redesign.

AXIA’s role extends beyond supply, with the company also involved in land and commercialisation aspects of the project.

Ítalo Freitas, Vice President of Commercialization and Energy Solutions at AXIA, says: “The partnership with Elea reinforces AXIA's role as a provider of integrated solutions for its clients, enabling innovative and strategic business ventures and projects focused on digital transformation.

“As the largest 100% renewable energy company in the Southern Hemisphere, AXIA has a robust portfolio capable of guaranteeing firm, reliable and sustainable energy for an enterprise of this magnitude, expanding connectivity and contributing to attracting investments that boost the economic development of the Amazon region.”

Building connectivity beyond Fortaleza

Beyond power, BEL1’s strategic value is tied to connectivity.

Belém sits within Brazil’s northern fibre network and is linked through the Norte Conectado programme, which is expanding digital infrastructure across the Amazon basin. This positions the city as a complementary route to Fortaleza, the country’s main submarine cable landing point.

With additional coastal fibre expansions connecting to international systems between Europe and the region, Belém offers an alternative node that reduces dependency on a single coastal corridor.

As these networks evolve, the northern region is gaining traction as part of broader transatlantic routing strategies. BEL1 is therefore entering a landscape where physical geography is being reshaped by fibre networks and AI demand growth.